Where Wisdom Finds Its Way Home

The room had just begun to quiet when the energy shifted. You could feel it before you saw it the subtle pause between courses, the anticipation of what was coming next. My painting had just been placed under the lights at the Spiro Ball, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed.

I had chosen this particular piece for a reason. It wasn’t just a painting, it was a reflection. Years ago, during my time at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I was always drawn to Minerva, the enduring symbol of wisdom and guidance that quietly watches over the campus. That connection stayed with me. So much so that in my own backyard, I’ve placed a sculpture inspired by Minerva statue at UNCG, originally created by my friend, the gifted sculptor Jim Barnhill. In my garden, she stands over a koi pond, pouring forward—an image that has come to represent wisdom shared, not kept.

That evening, I shared that story briefly before the auctioneer began. And then  it happened.

The bidding started gently, then quickly took on a life of its own, hands rose, voices followed. What began as interest turned into something far more spirited almost as if the room understood the deeper meaning behind the piece. Back and forth it went until, with a resounding crack of the gavel, it was done.

A woman in the back row had made the final bid. Moments later, I found her to say thank you, not just for the purchase, but for what it represented. That’s when I met Glenda Schillinger, a fellow alum whose life’s work has been devoted to serving others through her foundation, healthcare service, and advocacy for women and children. In that moment, the painting found exactly where it was meant to go.

Three Reflections Worth Holding Onto

The things that move us most often come full circle
What begins as a quiet impression, a statue on campus, a moment in passing can take root in ways we don’t fully understand at the time. Years later, those same impressions resurface, not just as memories, but as inspiration to give something meaningful back.

Art becomes powerful when it carries a story beyond itself
A painting on a wall can be beautiful. But a painting with meaning one tied to memory, purpose, and shared experience becomes something more. That night, it wasn’t just about the image of Minerva. It was about what she represents: wisdom, generosity, and the passing of knowledge from one life to another.

Generosity has a way of recognizing itself
There’s something remarkable about how the right piece finds the right person. Glenda’s life has been defined by service, compassion, and impact. In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of Minerva. It felt less like a transaction and more like a moment of alignment where intention met purpose.

A Thought to Carry With You

Sometimes the most meaningful things we create are not meant to stay with us. They’re meant to move through us finding their way into the hands and hearts of others who will carry the story forward in ways we never could.

And perhaps that’s the quiet beauty of it all… When something is created with purpose, it rarely ends where it begins.